App Showdown: TomTom vs. Navigon

As blizzards and the like bear down on the nation, sometimes traveling can get a little dicey, and it can be easy to lose where you're at. Granted, you could probably just pull over and open a map, but why not let your iPhone do that for you? We highlight two apps that are the leaders, Navigon's MobileNavigator North America, and TomTom's U.S. & Canada app.

Before we get going, when it comes to GPS apps, one of the largest questions most have is, "how much is this gonna cost me?" As of the time of this writing, Navigon and TomTom are both at $59.99 USD.

Let's get driving!

When Navigon's app first came out, many were leery of it, because of the fact that Navigon's portable devices came to an abrupt halt in the US, so many wondered if the app would also go by the wayside. In my usage, I could say that certainly has not been the case so far. The company has continually poured out updates and is now on Version 1.6.0.

If you decide to go with Navigon, when you first fire it up, you'll come to a screen like the one below.

It's a relatively simple UI, but if you're unfamiliar with GPS navigators, it certainly can't hurt to get familiar with your options before you head out. As you can see, you have a main screen that allows you to Enter an Address. If you know the specific address of where you're heading, you can start out by typing in your location.

Or perhaps if you know of a Point of Interest you'd like to check out, say the nearest Apple Store, this would be your option. Navigon gives you choices of being able to select a POI in a city, something within your state, something nearby or even the nearest gas station, parking or dining areas. However, since a POI might not always be part of Navigon's directory, the app also gives you the option to do a Google Local Search.

Navigon also gives you the option of "Take Me Home", where you can pre-program into the app what you might like for your home address to be. That way, if you're on your way home from an unfamiliar movie theater or your grandparents' house, just hit "Take Me Home" and the app will automatically figure out the best route to get you there.

Other features on the main screen include recent addresses that you might have selected before so that you can have easy access to frequently used ones.

Extra Goodies

While it took Navigon a little while, the app does feature Live Traffic, which can be purchased from within the app. Worried about what delays you might run into on your way to work? Live Traffic is a great option.

Navigon also has the Panorama 3D View, though this is also an in-app purchase. The app takes data from NASA to provide a three dimensional view of the layout around you. While it may not be as handy, it can certainly make for a much more aesthetically pleasing map, and it's also pretty spot on with where the sun was located in the sky as well.

Other Odds and Ends

While the app certainly excels in its main function as a navigator, it has a whole laundry list of other functions to enhance your experience, such as: portrait/landscape format, Reality View Pro (real time display of motorway interchanges and exits), Lane Assistant Pro (should you stay in the same lane or merge over), real sign post display, speed assistant to guide you if you're going too fast, day and night mode for map display, direct access to your iPhone address book, NAVTEQ maps, navigation restarts after an incoming call, as well as many others.

The features the company added in their most recent updated also includes Live Weather information both at the destination and in your route and CleverParking (spots around your destination and prior to arrival).

With a whole slew of features, and updates that continually arrive in the App Store, Navigon's MobileNavigator is certainly a solid choice for your traveling needs.

TomTom U.S. & Canada

Some have sometimes faulted TomTom for being a little late to the table, especially in terms of getting their iPhone Car Kit out the door. But lately they have picked up steam in terms of updates, now on Version 1.5. Fans of TomTom will also recognize the familiar user interface:

Similar to its Navigon counterpart, TomTom's app will also give you the option to pre-program a home address, so that you can get to your home base with ease, no matter where you might be located. You can also select a favorite address that you might have picked, or there's also the option to manually enter an address if you know it off the top of your head already.

You can also pick a recent destination, perform a Google Local Search, or even search for a Point of Interest as well. You can also call your POI ahead of time, if so much as to make sure that old pizza place five miles up the road still exists!

While you will certainly notice many features that will probably draw comparisons to Navigon's, in the premise of navigation, TomTom actually added on a neat feature recently that draws mentioning.

Ever wish you didn't have to always necessarily manually enter in an address? Or search for locations on the map? Well now TomTom's app can access photos in your Photo Library to navigate to. Perhaps you took a photo of that crazy tiger at the zoo with your iPhone and want to head back there again? Just select that picture and the app will take you there!

Other Goodies

In addition to Navigate-To-Photo, TomTom also recently optimized the app for the iPhone in terms of graphics, as well as updated maps. TomTom has also included their infamous IQ Routes Technology, which can evaluate various routes for you based on actual traffic speeds, versus static posted speed limits, thus recommending the best option for that time of day.

Similar to Navigon, you can also purchase 12 months of Real-Time Traffic as an in-app Purchase for $19.99 USD. The app also announces street names, provides advanced lane guidance, an automatic day/night mode, landscape/portrait modes and even eco-friendly routes, if you're trying to save gas. Another neat feature is that you can select car symbols for the marker of your location instead of the usual arrow!

Closing Tips

As both apps advise when they first load, keep your eyes on the road for safe driving. With that, unless you have a CD tray/slot already in your vehicle that you could place your device in for easy viewing, it's dangerous to think of putting it anywhere else. Thus, getting a dash mount is certainly advisable.

Both apps also suck the life out of your iPhone's battery, so pack a car charger if you don't already have one. If you try to operate the apps without one, you'll probably soon notice your battery having drained rather quickly.

TomTom and Navigon both certainly bring huge offerings to the iPhone GPS table. It should be noted that there are other offerings out there as well, such as ones provided by AT&T (they are subscription based), Magellan and ALK's CoPilot. In the end though, while MobileNavigator put up a great fight in terms of features, TomTom won out in terms of ease of use, and the street names were also much easier to read on the small screen, certainly a vital feature!

Comment

1) Traffic is a LIFETIME upgrade with the Navigon. No yearly fees. You did not make clear that it is a lifetime upgrade, which was one of the dominant decision factors for me.

2) You can buy a MyRegion version of the Navigon app. I have rarely been east of Nevada, and don't really need a GPS when I am there. The single region versions are only $30, instead of $60. If you ever move or otherwise need another region's navigation maps (there are three: east, west, and central US), they are in-app purchases for $15. So the total cost is still the same $60 if you ultimately need the US, but if you don't then one region is half the price. Granted this loses Canada, but it still represents a more flexible pricing structure.

3) Navigon left the US handheld GPS market because they were having a hard time breaking in, and because it was a shrinking market. They left to focus on smartphone-based offerings. They are one of the long-standing top brands of GPS in Germany. (They are also really nice if you talk to them at MacWorld.)